Tuesday, March 8, 2016

A New Chapter

Maid Elizabeth just bought her first house. She has a good, steady job and has been feeling like she needed to do the "next" thing for awhile, but was unsure what that next thing was. She had tossed around the idea of building a little cottage on our property, but that seemed daunting. She had (briefly) considered renting an apartment, but she was not at all pleased with that idea. And then, the cutest little house came on the market. It was in need of a little (or maybe more than a little) TLC, but it was close to her job and it was a foreclosure, so the price was (really) right.

A very large living room (with wood heat)

Original banister

A small storage cubby on the way up the stairs

So, for less than many people pay for their first car, Maid Elizabeth bought a house. She signed on the dotted line and took possession of her keys yesterday. She walked through her threshold with a mixture excitement and trepidation - excited because she had her very own home and terrified because she felt the whole weight of home ownership on her shoulders.

Original door knobs

The original chimney in the kitchen

Her little house needs work before she moves in - the hardwood floors need to be refinished and the bathroom gutted. She wants to put new flooring in the kitchen (that has a chimney and room for her wood cookstove!) and paint all of the walls. It needs new paint outside and a bit of yard maintenance, but it is structurally sound and in remarkably good shape for a house that was built in 1910!

First Tea!

Maid Elizabeth practicing hospitality in her own home!

Master Calvin and Princess Dragon Snack enjoying their tea

Our oldest child is stretching her wings! And we are so proud to watch her soar.

27 comments:

Well done Maid Elizabeth! Congratulations on reaching such a very, very smart decision at such a young age. It's great to see a young woman with enough confidence to know what she wants and to go get it.

So proud of her!!! I did something similar 40 years ago.... paid it off, rented it and bought another (letting rent pay mortgage) then another and another. Just sent money today helping 3rd nephew buy first home for his family. Hard work pays off and know she can do anything she sets her mind to.

Wow! I know she is a grown woman, but can't help thinking of her as the young daughter still at home helping her mom. How time has been flying. And now she owns her own home! I can see so much potential in that house. Please share photos as she turns it into a home as cozy and warm as her mothers. (Hope it's okay if we are as proud of her as her parents surely are.)

Congratulations Maid Elizabeth. That's a well-built house. Wow, 1910. That's 3 years before 1913 if you catch my drift. And it looks like it has been maintained enough to protect its integrity. I love the steep, strong roof. It looks like the perfect starter-home and a solid investment. Just be careful not to over-improve. It is adorable; just add love.Montana Guy

Good for you, Maid Elizabeth!A simple method to remove paint from old hinges and other metal door hardware: Boil them in water and a generous amount of dish soap. The softened paint can then be scrubbed off with sos pads and a toothbrush! From-Auntie Kathy

You must be bursting with pride at the smart & sensible daughter that you have raised! Congratulations to everyone! What a wonderful old house to get started on-can't wait for more pictures!-Stealth Spaniel

What a lovely house! No one has taken away it's "specialness" and Maid Elizabeth is just the right lady to restore it and make it look loved again. Congratulations to Maid Elizabeth and to you, Enola Gay and Sir Knight, for a job well done.sidetracksusie

Young lady may I offer you my congratulations on your new home. Please know this, my wife and I are both 58 years young and we bought our first home almost 4 years ago May. It seemed at times very daunting and we felt overwhelmed at times too. 4 years later we still have a few more things to do to get it "just right". Take your time and have fun with it! That's my advice. Prayers will be coming for you!With deepest Love and Respect,Hoss and Boo

Your readers would love to see how Maid Elizabeth goes about her "home improvements" since we know that every step will be interesting and original. Your "shouse" is charming, and she will undoubtedly have a charming home with a lot of personality evident in every room.

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About Me

I am a christian, conservative, survival minded, homeschooling,off-grid, independent, home-birthing, Proverbs 31, Titus 2 minded 40 year old woman. I live with my husband and five children in our solar/generator powered shop on 30 acres. We are homestead types who try to do as much as we can ourselves, but understand the importance of community.